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Committee backs SB 1094 to promote biosimilars amid safety and notification debate
Summary
SB 10 94 would encourage biosimilar and generic substitution to lower drug costs by allowing insurers to require trial of lower-cost alternatives and permitting pharmacists to substitute biosimilars unless a prescriber marks 'do not substitute.' Supporters cited large potential savings; some medical and biotech groups warned about pharmacist substitution procedures and the need for pharmacist-prescriber alignment.
Sen. Weber Pearson presented SB 10 94 as a measure to increase biosimilar use and reduce prescription-drug spending. The bill allows health plans to require enrollees to try a generic or biosimilar when available at equal or lower cost, and authorizes pharmacists to substitute biosimilars for reference biologics unless a prescriber indicates "do not substitute." The author said the measure follows Medicare policy and would inject competition into biologic…
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